Abstract

Efforts to minimize the fishing pressure on Strombus gigas in Guadeloupe, since more than 15 years associate various regulations, education, and repression. Successive regulation saim to protect the juveniles, to lower the fishing pressure on deep areas, and to leave sanctuaries free of any fishing. It has been extended this year from January to September. To enforce such various regulations is a heavy task which is very partially fulfilled. For example, it is possible to find S. gigas, sold in the market at week ends during the closed season and as wetl illegal size S. gigas without any reaction of the competent authorities. People have always a good reason to explaing why they do not comply with the regulation as they are not convinced of its usefulness and are not threatened by seizure and fines except on very special occasions.\Efforts to offer simple, reliable biological information as well to fishermen as to consumers have been developed for a good understanding of the scientific reason of legal constraints. Biological documents on the life of S. gigas are published and used for educational purposes. Several initiatives aim to educate the children between 10 and 14 years as they appear as the most receptive ones for environmental education. Amplification using television and radio broadcasting as well as local newspapers is used as frequently as possible, but it is difficult to evaluate the impact of such campaigns. All the efforts do not appear to lower the actual illegal fishing pressure on S. gigas, and it is necessary to develop a rather harsh campaign to keep S. gigas alive for the next generation, which may be more conscious of the importance of endangered species and nature conservation.

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